That the Catholic Church needs a “reality check” on its entire sexual theology would seem an obvious platitude to most people in the real world – but when the admission comes from a senior archbishop, it’s worth taking note.
Dublin’s archbishop was responding to the comprehensive win for same – marriage by Irish voters, and especially by those of his own archdiocese. Martin has previously said that we should respect and value same – sex couples, and that although he would personally be voting against, he declined to tell others how to vote.
Let us pray that the Irish bishops at the family synod in October will take these excellent sentiments with them, for presentation to their colleagues.
Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said if the referendum was an affirmation of the views of young people, the church had a “huge task in front of it”.
Large crowds gathered in Dublin as the results of the referendum were announced
“I think really the church needs to do a reality check,” he told RTE.
Amen to that. Come Holy Spirit. I think this is a huge development which will further theological development. Pentecost 2015 !
But what does the cardinal mean by ”the Church has a huge task in front of it”? is the task one of coming to turn with reality, and seeking to correct the Church’s long-standing and hypocritical attitude of injustice, uncharitability, and oppressiveness towards gay people? or is the task one of trying to convince society and coerce the State now more than ever before to demonise and penalise gay people? it seems to me that the Church Hierarchy will only be able to change when they face the fact the a majority of the catholic clergy itself is gay, and admit to themselves and to the world that the main reason for obligatory celibacy is that many priests would want to get married to another man.